Lock for stop-boxes.



PATENTED SEPT. 1, 1903.

L. R. SOHUNCK. LOOK FOR STOP BOXES. APPLICATION FILED APR. 25, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

no. veneer.

iate'rited September 1, 1903'.

PATENT ()FFIcE.

LOUIS n. SCHUNOK, on MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin.

LOOK FOR STOP-BOXES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 737,667, datedSeptember 1, 1903.

Application filed April 25, 1902. Serial No. 104,615. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be'it known that I, LOUIS R. ScHUNoK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Milwaukee, county of Milwaukee, and. State of Wisconsin,have invented new and useful Improvements in Locks for Stop-Boxes, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in looks for stop-boxes, withespecial reference to that class of boxes used to protect thestreet-valves of water-supply systems, It is customary to locate thesevalves at a considerable distance below the surface of the ground,inclosing them within a protectingtube which extends vertically to thesurface of the ground and is provided with a removable cover, wherebyaccess to the valve is permitted. It has been extremely difficult toprovide loose covers for these boxes, owing to the fact that they areexposed to the elements, and the fastenings heretofore devised have beenfound to rust to such an extent as to frequently render it impossible toremove the cover without destroying it.

The object of my invention is to provide a comparatively inexpensiveform of lock in which the movable parts are so constructed that any rustor corrosion thereof will be ineffective to prevent the release of thecover.

In the following description reference is had to the accompanyingdrawings,in which-- Figure 1 is an elevation of a stop-box of the classto which my invention is applied. Fig. 2 is a top view of the same. Fig.3 is a detail view of the upper end of the box in vertical longitudinalsection; and Fig. 4 is a sectionalview of the upper portion of the box,drawn on line :0 w of Fig. 3 and showing the under side of the cover andlock.

Like parts are identified by the same reference-numerals throughout theseveral views.

1 is the body of the box; 2, the head or upper portion thereof, which isprovided with an inwardly-projecting flange 3, upon which the cover 4:rests, the head of the box being tapered on its interior surface fromthe up per end to the flange 3 and the cover correspondingly tapered.The cover is provided with a central aperture 5, through which a bolt 6is passed, the head 7 of the bolt being preferably countersunk in thecover, as shown, with sufiicient space for the application of the key tothe bolt-head. At each side of the bolt the under surface of the coveris provided with projecting ears 8, to which the elbowed locking-arms 9are pivotally secured, the arms being so formed that when movedoutwardly to the position in which they are shown in Fig. 3 their outerends will engage underneath the flange 3. The lower end of the bolt isscrew-threaded and is pro vided with a nut 10 of rectangular shape withforked ends, Fig. 4, which straddle the upper portion of thelocking-arms 9. The arms 9 are rounded, as shown at 12 in Fig. 3, andthe lower end of the bolt is provided with a pin 13, which limits thedownward movement of the nut, preventing the latter from movingdownwardly out of engagement with the arms 9.

It will be observed that the elbow of the arms 9 is in the form ofanobtuse angle and the engagement of the nut 10 with the arms preventsthe out from turning with the bolt.

When the bolt 6 is turned, therefore, the nut 10 will move upwardly ordownwardly upon the screw and. when moved upwardly will force the arms9outwardly into locking posi= tion. When moved downwardly, the nut willpermit. the arms to drop into the position of release, when the covermay be removed by inserting the fingers or a suitable tool in therecesses 14.

By providing the elbowed arms with the rounded portions 12 any danger ofthe nut 10 getting caught on the angle formed by the elbow is avoided,and at the same time the initial upward movement, with nut acting uponthe rounded portion 12, causes the arms to throw out toward theirlocking position rapidly; but when the arms reach a position un der theannular flange or rib 3 the nut will have moved upwardly to a positionof engagement with the angular face of the lockingarms above theelbow,where it acts with great force in moving the arms to a bindingposition upon the flange 3.

It will be observed that in unlocking the box it is merely necessary toturn the bolt 6, any rust or corrosion of the bolt being overcome bymeans of the leverage of the key used. When the nut 10 has been moveddownwardly to the pin 13, if the locking-arms 9 do not drop to theirreleasing position they can easily be made to do so by prying upon thecover, owing to the long leverage between the outer ends of the arms andthe supporting-pivots. I prefer, however, to make the entire lockingmechanism of brass, as the corrosion of that metal is much less likelyto interfere with the operation of thelock than if made of any othersuitable metal.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with the upper end of a stop-box forwater-controlling valves; of an interior rib or flange,projectinginwardly therefrom; a cover fitting the upper end of the box;locking-arms, each pivotally secured at one end to the cover, andadapted to be moved outwardly into contact with the under side of saidrib or flange, when the cover is in position; a screwthreaded drawboltpassing freely through a central aperture in said cover; and a nut onsaid bolt provided with forked arms moving in sliding engagement withsaid locking-arms.

2. The combination with a stop-box for Water-controlling valves; of ahead therefor, provided with an interior rib or flange; a cover fittedto said head;' a bolt passing through a ter-controlling valves; of aninterior flange connected therewith; acover fitting the upper end of thebox; elbowed arms pivotally secured to the under side of said cover, andadapted to be adjusted with their free ends engaging under said flange;a nut loosely engaging said arms and holding the same with their upperportions in a downwardly-diverging position; and a bolt passing throughan aperture in the cover, and having screW- threaded engagement withsaid nut.

4. The combination with a stop-box for water-controlling valves; of aninterior annular flange connected therewith; a cover fitting the upperend of the box and adapted to rest on said flange; elbowed armspivotally secured to the under side of said cover, and adapted to beadjusted with their free ends engaging under said flange; a nut looselyengaging said arms and holding the same with their upper portions in adownwardly-diverging position; and a bolt passing through an aperture inthe cover,and having screw-threaded engagement with said nut; togetherwith means for limiting the downward movement of the nut.

5. The combination with a stop-box for water-controlling valves, havingan interior annular flange near the upper end thereof; of a coveradapted to fit within said box, and to rest upon said flange; elbowedlocking-arms pivotally secured to said cover,with their free endsadapted to engage underneath said flange; an actuating-n utlooselyengaging said locking-arms, and holding the same with their engagedportions in a diverging position ;-and an actuating draw-bolt havingscrew-threaded engagement with said nut.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

LOUIS R. SGHUNCK.

Witnesses: I

J As. B; EBWIN, LEVERETT 0. WHEELER.

